I continued. "I have built a life for myself outside of this place that I would choose in every single lifetime. My time here was what it was, but my story from here on out will be about the family I create and the legacy I'm able to leave behind. Like my girl Shante said, I got a man, honey. I'm happy where I am."
The crowd rose to their feet. Applause filled the studio and I could hear people cheering as I looked back at Simone, who was on her feet clapping right along with them. A few tears slipped down my cheeks and someone rushed over with tissues. Theywere happy tears. I had finally gotten to walk away on my own terms, the way I always deserved to.
I stood and Simone pulled me into a hug. She held on a little longer than expected and whispered close to my ear.
"I think I need to come visit this town that pulled you away from all of this. Maybe there's room for me too."
She pulled back with a nod.
"I'll make sure you get those details after the show," I told her.
Simone held my hand and asked one last question.
"What do you think you've learned on this journey of finding the woman standing before us today?"
I smiled and stood still for just a moment.
"I think I'm finally learning that being seen and being known aren't the same thing."
"Amen. That's a word. You heard it here first, people. This is the farewell episode for Ms. Solana Amore. I wish you all the good things in life and in your new chapter."
She hugged me once more as I waved out at the audience and the cameraman was cued to cut to commercial. The moment the red light went dark, I exhaled.
Simone turned back to me. "I'm serious about that information. I think we all need a getaway." She glanced briefly toward the back of the studio. "I can already see you're about to get an earful from your manager over there. I knew something was off with the questions he cleared. I went off script on a feeling. I hope I didn't push you to share anything you weren't ready to."
I waved her off with a smile.
"Girl, I'm not giving that man any more of my attention. He isn't my manager anymore after today. Even before all of this, we had fulfilled everything within our contracts. And I wouldn't have said a single thing out there if I didn't want to."
Simone smiled and nodded, then looked past me toward Duke, who I already knew was giving me a look that said it was time to go. A moment later he strolled over, his eyes settling on me first.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and turned to face her.
"Simone, this is Duke. Duke, Simone."
Duke reached out and shook her hand with a genuine smile.
"It's nice to meet the man who managed to snatch up one of our favorite actresses."
He nodded, then looked back down at me.
I turned to Simone. "Thank you again for having me. I'm going to get out of your hair and go listen to Henderson have a fit about something he never had any control over. You enjoy your day."
Simone waved as Duke and I followed the production assistant back to the dressing room to wait for the car to be pulled around. The moment we stepped inside, Henderson was already pacing.
Duke leaned against the door as I walked over to grab a bottle of water.
"Do you realize what you've done?" Henderson asked.
I smiled and nodded. "I was out there, Henderson. I know exactly what I did. And I'd like to know why you told these people I was planning to do more projects when we have never once discussed that. That's why you didn't want me looking at that packet."
Henderson stopped pacing and turned toward me with a scowl. Before he could open his mouth, Duke pushed off the door and dropped his hands to his sides.
"Before you say something that's going to get your head knocked off, fix your tone and think about it."
I crossed my arms and shifted my weight to one hip. I was not going to have to say a single word. Because he heard exactly what my man said.
Henderson exhaled sharply and looked away for a moment, pulling himself together the way Duke had suggested.
